On reading the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society for the Year 1798, which you was so obliging as to send me, I observe a mistake, which I will take the Liberty of mentioning.1

The Report of a Committee of the Board of Correspondents of the Scots Society for propagating Christian Knowledge, who visited the Oneida and Mohekunuk Indians in 1796, is one of the Papers published in this Volume of Collections.2 The Report contains twenty four Queries, with the answers of the Committee— the following are among them.—

Query. 18— Are any of them under the Guardianship of the State of New York?—

The Answer contains among others, the following Paragraph. “The Brothertown Indians are more particularly under the Guardianship of the State, as may be seen by a late Act of Assembly, a Copy of which accompanies this Report.”3

Query. 19— What Sums of money or Quantities of Goods do they recieve from the State; how are they divided, and what use do the Indians make of them—?

The Answer contains among others, the following Paragraph vizt. “The Brothertown Indians recieve an annuity of 2160 Dollars, which Sum is partly appropriated to the Purpose of maintaining a School, partly to the payment of an Attorney to transact their Business, and the Remainder to be applied to their Benefit as he shall judge proper”—4

The Act of Assembly alluded to, was passed the 4th. March 1796, and is Entitled “An Act for the Relief of the Indians who are entitled to Land in Brother-town.”5 among many other Provisions in it there is the following vizt. “The Treasurer of this State for the Time being, shall on the first Monday in August next, and on the first Monday in August in every Year thereafter, out of any money then in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, pay to the order of the Person administering the Government of this State for the Time being, the Sum of Eight hundred and sixty four Pounds six Shillings and four pence, being the amount of the Interest of fourteen thousand four hundred and five pounds six Shillings & Eight pence, at the Rate of six per Cent, who shall cause so much thereof as may be necessary for that purpose, to be applied for erecting a School House ^& maintaining a School^ in Brothertown for the Education of Indian Children, and the Remainder after payment of the Salary to the Attorney herein after mentioned, to and for the Benefit of the Indians then residing in Brothertown in such manner as he shall judge proper.”6

The answer to the 19th. Query inadvertently applies the word he to the Attorney, whereas it relates to “the Person administering the Government of this State, for the Time being.[”]7

Immediately after ^the^ passing of the Act, and in Pursuance of it, three discreet and respectable Superintendants of the affairs of the Brothertown Indians were appointed.—8 They personally visit the Settlement, inspect the State of their affairs, and become informed of their wants, and consequently of the kind and Quantity of the Supplies most necessary and proper to be provided for them. The Superintendants make annual Reports to the Governor, and usually specify in Detail the various Objects to which the Remainder of the annuity, after payment of stated Salaries, should in their opinion be applied. The Governor thereupon gives Orders for the application, either agreable to their advice, or with such Variations as he may judge expedient. The Superintendants annually present their accounts and Vouchers to the Treasury Department, where they are examined and settled by the Comptroller who regularly certifies the same. I subjoin a Copy of his last Certificate— it will evince the precise and accurate manner in which the Business is conducted.

Being persuaded that the Information and Remarks contained in this Letter will be acceptable to the Society, I request the favor of you to lay it before them— I have the Honor to be with great Respect & Esteem Sir your most obedt. Servt.

The Revd. Doctr. John Eliot corresponding Secy. of the Massachusetts historical Society

Copy

		Superintendants of the affairs of the Brothertown Indians
		To the State of New York----------------------	Dr
			Ds. Cs.
1798
	December	7. To cash from the treasurer by     warrant No. 718	2160.79
		26. To Ballance of their last account	632.57
1799		Credit	2,793.36
	August 8.	By the amount of their account	1,125.73
		Ballance in the Hands of the
		Superintendants	1,667.63

State of New York Office of the Comptroller

I have examined the above account, and do certify that William Floyd, Edmund Prior and Thomas Eddy the Superintendants of the Affairs of the Brothertown Indians, have produced Vouchers for the Expenditure of one thousand one hundred and twenty five Dollars and seventy three Cents, of the money they received out of the Treasury of this State, on the Warrant of the comptroller dated the seventh Day of December last, by order of his Excellency the Governor of this State, pursuant to the third Section of the Act for the Relief of the Indians who are entitled to Lands in Brothertown; and that including the Balance of their former accounts the sum of one thousand six hundred and sixty seven Dollars and sixty three cents remains in their Hands, to be applied to and for the Benefit of the Indians residing in Brothertown, in such manner as his Excellency the governor shall judge proper & direct.9

Albany 2d Octr. 1799